Ventilator



June 18, 1963 E. F. o'aRlEN. JR., ETAL VENTILATOR Filed Aug. 28. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 18, 1963 E. F. O'BRIEN, JR., ETAL VENTILATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 Maffay/vir June 18, 1963 E. F. oBRlEN, JR., ETAL 3,094,058

VEINTILATOR` 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 This invention relates to ventilators, more particularly to ventilators for rolling doors, partition panels, sliding windows and like members.

a United States Patent O "Still more particularly, this inventionhas for its object to provide Ventilating means in flush planar members, Isuch `as in walls, doors, windows which are of a rolling or sliding type, and partitional members, `whether hinged or of the sliding type, Where bodily shifting movement of lthe doors, Windows, panels, because of the extensiveness of, the gapthese members cover, makes it `undesirable to 'rnovethese members bodily for their entire height or width in attempting to effect ventilation.

More particularlyit is Van object of this invention to provide a ventilator which likewise should be free from any projection inthe plane of the members, when they rslide or'roll relatively to each other. Still more` particularly, this invention has for its object lto provide aV ventilator installable in the frameportionfof a sliding door, window, partition panel, to control the ingress and egress of air directed therethrough so 'as to flow circuitously, and eliminate drafts by controlling the path of the air ilow, which may` be very `simply and readily installed in either Wood ormetal members.

Still more particularly, it is an object of this invention 'to provide ventilator` means` installable in flush or planar members,I` such as 'slidingdoors, sliding windows, panels f partitions, in a manner `to assure a minimum of undesirablnprojqecting inuence, and made from components patented Jupe 18,1963

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective Vview of the member components;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

' Reference is now made to the drawings wherein there is vshown a fragment of `a panel 10 arrangedto be slidably guided at Vits lowerportion 11 in a track 12a on the floor F. The panel is merely illustrative, and the invention has utility in connection with a sliding type window, a sliding orrolling door of apartition assembly or anyfofther planar member which is so extensive that it would be inexpedient to slide it bodily f or ventilation,l Without loss of the privacy visually andV orally `intended by the use of the member. t -It is contemplated by the invention to incorporate a ventilator assembly 13 into an oblong slot 14 cut or other- Jwisehformed inthe lower rail 12 `ofthe panel 10, to lie flush with the exterior surface 15 andthe interior surface 416` of the panel, so as to minimize obstructing projections.

The ventilator assembly 13 includes a front or exterior coverrplate 17 and a rear or interior Vcoverplate 18.` The 'front cover plate `17 dimensionally extends to overlap the rail. "The slot 14 is intendedito lie flush withgthe exlterior surface 415 of theI panel `1,() and is formed with predeterminedly spaced venting holes 19.

Extending from the interior .face of the cover plate 17 are spaced guide plates 20 and 21. 4These guide plates are spaced from Veach vother for a distance providing a close tit within the ail outlined slot 14 and to extend for a depth approximating thethickness of the rail 12;,

` fSpacedfrornthe inner fpaceof the cover plate 17 there fwhich permit interiitting `and assemblywith minimum i labor or the/provisionl lof custom-.made parts, while assuring'privacy,l`indirectldiffusion ofthe ilow of air, and providing means for complete or measured cut-oftr of thetlow of V`airgwhen such contrai is found desiraie'. A

Still more particularly, itis an object of this invention to'provideanventilatorA construction for the planar portions of doors', particularly sliding doors, windows, panels, in which extensive lengths of the member components may be stocked,'to' bel cut to the desired sizes `for assembly, yand `thereby effect large Veconomies in labor and materials.

j Thus, it is .contemplated by'theinvention that by making the maincomponents ofthe ventilator in such lengths, o f extrusions -in standard'forms fiom aluminum, plastic,v or even stainless steeland other formable material, to store is provided normal to the VguicleplatesZOll and 21 upstandf `ing flanges andA 23,. defining longitudinaljslots24, 24 along the lengthof theguide plates' 2.0 and 21, respectively. At 4 an intermediateportion of the guideplatesm20 and 42,1 Vare formedpoppositely `directedjguides 25, 2.6, respectively. The cdmpflrlnts A'comprising the; front cover plate, guide plates and `langes thusfdescribed are'preferablymade in the formi'olff'str'ips of an extrusion of aluminum, to secure 'components of intermediate length, althopghitlwill 'be ,understood that these "lengths of fm'embersmaylikewise be fornied"fromextrudable` plastics, stainless steel or like moldablefmaterials. fr' v f i The seeond component of the ventilator assembly cons'titutes a' tubular batlie member 27 having an upper wall f 28 `and a lower wall 29, each having a guide lugor rib such partsin readiness for sectioningp-to desired sizes, rel l dueing expensive inventories to `the minimum, thereby to eifect further economies in storage space, dies and tools for the installation'of the ventilator assemblies.

-' To attainthese objects nand such further objects as may appear-herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof, in which: Y

`FIGURE lis a fragmentary perspective .view illustrating a sliding door, the rail of Which incorporates a ventilatoryin `accordance with this invention, 'looking at the interior face. `of the same; l-

FIGURE 2 is ainagnitied fragmentary elevational View from the interior face ofthe door; .t `..115'IGU-RE-3ris a section taken' on the line 3-3 UREZ;

1 FIGURE 4I is a partial section taken `on the line`4-l-4 ofEIGURE 3', Withtheventilator control in the fully `openposition; Y i 5 FIGURE ,5 is a sectional view similar. to .FIGURE 4 ,with the ventilator control `in the `:fully closed position;

30,31, respectivelnon the exterior lsurface ofthe walls 2 8` and 29,farranged, slidably to b e received in the guides ZSfand 2,6,respectively;` In otherrespects, fthefupperand lower wallsrc'onfhorm to the spacing betweenthe guide plates -20 and' 21, vfor slidable movement.

' The tubular baille? member 27, has its exte'rir-,wall 32 formed with an odset 33,' interfittingthe edges of the flanges 22, 23.' The exterior wall /32 is formed with 4vent holes" 34 which are positioned congruentlyin` overlapped position Vwith the vent holes 19 of the front cover pate.' i

Rearwardly, the tubular baille member is vprovided withdownwardlyand upwardly extending baffles 3S and 36 'at staggered'positions so that thefterminal 'edges 37 fand 38 overlap each other. The terminal portions may be formed withcurvilinear heads for 'the entire length to avoid knfeledges and vaer,o-dynarnically improve the flowV off air therethroughgras well 'las rigidity these unslp- Vported terminal edges.' 'A v f Thetubular bathe Arnembervhaxs `a rear Wall 39 formed with venting holes 40 which 4need not be congruent with theventing' holes. 19 and 34.4 Annpstndingboss'tl runs alongthe length of the wall 39. The tubular baille also may be' extruded,4 indeterminate "lengths, 'toghe cut to 'size as required, since it is used open-ended.

Another component member of the assembly comprises the cover 18, previously described, which consists of ya formed, die-drawn sheeting or cast plate having peripheral flanges 42 arranged to overlap the slot 14 on lthe interior face of the rail 12, with a centrally disposed dished-in section 43 which merges into the wall 44 to provide an interior venting wall I45, by the .provision of venting holes y46, likewise arranged in size, number and position to ybe congruent with the venting holes 40, if aligned. There is also provided one elongated slot 47 arranged to receive the control knob 48 whose shank 49 is screw-threaded to be received in the boss 41 of the tubu-lar baiie member, Itapped to screw-threadedly receive the shank 49.

There are also provided end closure strips 50, each of which has a web 51 and an L-shaped llange 52 dimensionally simulating the front or exterior cover plate overhang 17 previously described, the web 51 extending for the thickness of the rail and for a width corresponding to the spacing between the guide plates 20, 21. An opstanding rib 53 is spaced Ifrom the corner edge 54 (FIGURE 6) to bring the flange 52 into alignment with the cover plate 17 and to position the rib 53 in `alignment with the flanges 22, 23 extending from the guide plates 20 and 21.

The end closure strip 50 for each end of the assembly may likewise be made into continuous strips by extruding aluminum, plastic and other materials, as previously described for making the front or exterior plate 17, to be out or finished to the width of the slot 14 formed in the rail of the device into which the ventilator is incorporated.

For this purpose, the rib 53 is trimmed at the edges 55, 56 to bring these ends into lalignment with the guide plates 20, 21 at their upper and lower edges `55 and 56.

With .the parts thus provided, -assembly may now be effected. This objective is accomplished by rst iitting a filter screen 57 into the slots 24, 24 to cover the venting holes 19. Thereupon the tubular baille member 27 -is slid into position between the guide plates 20, 21, to intert the guide lugs 30 and 31 into the guides 25, 26, respectively, and also interfit the olsets 33, 33 between the flanges 22 and 23, respectively. Thereupon, the end pieces are assembled to each -side of the front cover plate 17, which strip for making the cover plate has previously been cut from a strip to the proper length of the slot y14 `and formed with venting holes 19, previously described. Other means of uncovering the venting holes 19 may likewise be employed, as will be readily understood.

With the `assembly thus made comprising the front plate 17, the end members 50 and the tubular 'baille 27 holding the screen 57 in position, the box-like `assembly is fitted into the slot 14 in the rail 12 from the front face of the panel 10, and clipped or screwed to the slot walls, depend-ing fupon whether a metal or wood frame is employed in the material of the rail, as Will -be readily understood. Thereupon, the rear or interior cover is intertted, preferably with a friction fit, between the ends of the guide plates 20, 21 and the shank of the control knob 28 extended into Ithe slot 47, into the threaded boss 41 of the tubular 'baille member 27.

The length of the tubular baille member is such that in one position within the limits of the slot 47, it will align the :tubular baille member 27 so that the venting holes 19, 34, 40 and 46 are in alignment, and in another extreme position with relation to the slot 47, will bring the lands 58, 59 of the tubular baille member 27 in 'the front and rear walls thereof into covering position of the vent holes 19 and `46, it being understood that relative sliding movement will permit partial or complete covering or uncovering of the venting holes 19, 34, 40 and 46.

It will be observed that by the construction as provided, a venting assembly is achieved which may be made vfrom continuous strips for the principal parts, cut .to length as the slot in the various panels may dictate, and supply a flush nt in substantial planar relationship to these moving parts, whether they be rolling doors, windows, sashes, panels of sliding partitions or the like, to avoid any projection and .at the same time provide ventilation without requirement for opening the entire height of these members, and without sacrificing privacy.

Suiiicient diffusion of the yair draft or Iilow is secured to mule the sounds and secure oral privacy.

The ventilator likewise has the features of ease of iustallation and minimum tooling to secure the ilush or substantially planar lit on both faces.

In another embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGURES 7 and 8, features are shown permitting a further simpliiication of the component parts to .be made in the form of extrusions from aluminum and/or plastics in indeterminate lengths, from which sections lin accordance with desired lengths may be cut, and also providing for assembly with considerable ease, without special tools.

In this embodiment, the strip to form the exterior cover plate is provided with guide plates 200 and 201, having inwardly directed guide ribs 205, 106 in the upper and 4lower guide plates, respectively. The guide plates terminate at their ends with latching ends 211, 212, with cam aces l213, 214 adjacent the terminal ends of the guide plates. These latter ends vare of a depth conforming yto the rail fthikness of the door panel, window or like panel member in which the installation is to be made.

As Iin the prior embodiment, the cover plate 170 has vent holes 219 therein. Locking flanges 222, 223 ffor end plate engagement are integrally extended from the guide plates 200, 201, to dene retaining slots 204, as well as to serve as slots to hold the screen S7.

A rear or interior outlining strip 218 for the rear cover plate, instead of being dished, is flat in shape and is extruded lengthwise, being provided with vent holes 246 and an elongated, horizontally extended guide slot 247. The strip is provided with a pair of coupling ilanges or lugs 242, 243, formed with latch defining ends 244, 245 and camming faces 244', 245', respectively, at their leading ends. These anges are spaced apart to match in relative positions with the spacing of the cams 213, 214 of the guide plates 200, 201.

The tubular bale 270, to serve as a correlated member corresponding in the main to the baille 27, is made from a strip A having a front wall 232, offset forwardly by extensions 233` arranged slidingly to fit between the llanges 222, 223. The front wall is provided with venting holes 234 which may be congruent with venting holes 219 in the front cover 170 in one position of these parts to each other, as will be readily understood from the prior embodiment.

Rearwardly of the front wall 232, the strip 270 extends into a lower wall 290 having an upstanding baille plate 236 on its interior face, and a guiding groove 231 on its exterior face, corresponding in spacing to the distance -to the strip extension 233. The lower wall 290 terminates in a coupling component ledge 291 which may be roughly described as the female section of a dove-tail joint.

'T he coordinating rear portion of the tubular baille 270 is a strip having a rear main wall 239 arranged to be faced on the interior of the panel, which is provided with venting holes 240 congruently positioned to the venting holes I246 in the rear wall 218. It is provided with a lateral extension 292, terminating in the male section 293 of a dovetail joint. For convenience this joint will be referred to as an interlocking joint, as it is clear that other joints to resist tension and compression will suggest themselves, .the object being to outline the joint having this ready coupling and to permit ready extrusion in lengths of smaller sections than the tubular baille 27. Details of the stepped shoulders and abutting faces for a design furnishing resistance to tension and compression while permitting coupling, preferably by a sliding fit or snap to avoid the need for fastening means, such as screws, welds, bolts are the primary objective, int-the interest f economy.` A The wall 239, at its Vupper wall portion 294, has a downwardly extending baille 235 which is staggered in position to the position'of the baille 236, as described Vin connection with the first embodiment, FIGURE 3.

n the outer' surface, the wall section `280 is provided with a groove 230, longitudinally, slidably to conform to the guide rib 205 on the wall 200. The wall section 280 terminates in a joint section 281 for coupling slidably with the extension 282 on the wall section 232, providing an interlocking joint complementally positioned at the opposite corner of the tubular baille 270.

For assembly of the tubular baille, the strips A and B are cut for a length to ft within the slot 14 less the width of the slot 247. The rear strip B is fitted with a stud or threaded shank 149 olf-center with respect to the full dimension of the slot 14 to allow for the movement to the covering and uncovering positions of the venting holes. The strips are then coupled by sliding the joint portions 281, 282 and 29,1, 292 into coupling engagement.

[Formation of the enclosure portions is then effected, cutting a length of strip 1.70 and 218 for the front and rear cover plates. If end plates 51 are employed, as is desirable, the front cover plate strip =170 is just slightly shorter than the slot 14 of the panel and the strip 218 for the rear cover plate is longer. This latter is cut away at the ends of the lugs 242, 243 only on opposite ends of the strip for a length to overlap on the rear face of .the panel. If no end plates are employed, the strips may be of about equal length to the slot 14. If end flange overlap is desired with no end plates, the opposite ends of the guide plates 200, 201, as well as the opposite ends of the lugs 242, 243 may be cut away to provide a peripheral ilange F overlapping the slot 14, an operation which is very simple with some plastics such as polyethylene from which .the strips may be extruded, at both the ends and the side edges of the strips.

After fitting the strips A and B to the length of the slot 14, the tubular baille 270 is slid into position edgewise, to enclose the same between the guide plates 200, 201 and slidingly engage the ribs 205, 206 in the guiding grooves 230, 23d, respectively. Thereupon the assembly of the front or exterior cover plate 1.7 0 and the tubular baille 270 is ready to be inserted into the slot`1'4, if no end plates 51 are employed. If end plates are employed, they are ailixed in position rst, as in the rst embodiment.

Thereupon .the rear strip 218 is moved into position to have the shank 149 enter the slot 247, to project the shank therethrough and the coupling flanges 242, 243 are latched with the ends 211, 212 on the ends of the guide plates 200, 201, respectively.

This operation rmly xes the ventilator in position without tools and is intended to be irremovably positioned only by distortion of portions of the Iflanges. For removal or access, set-screw covered apertures (not shown) adjacent the latching faces 213, 214 through the ange F may be provided for prying the coupling apart.

After coupling to opposite sides of the slot in the rail or stile y12 of the door or window panel 10, the knob 248 is threaded upon the shank |149 to provide the operation of the tubular baille for aligning or overlapping the venting holes previously described.

In this embodiment not only are the full features achieved as described in connection with the first embodiment but each of the components may be readily extruded and more readily aerodynamically altered to secure a silent flow, with minimum internal turbulence losses, within a very limited Vaperture in the door or panel in which the ventilator is mounted, making the same adaptable to aluminum or metal windows with narrow rails or stiles.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as lnew and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A ventilator arranged to bepositioned in substantially planar relationship with the rail of a door', window or the like, with` a slot formed therethrough, to be mounted within substantially the thickness of the rail, comprising a front cover plate having a pair of parallel guide plate means spaced apart substantially the height of the slot on one face thereof arranged to pnojectinto said slot of said rail, a tubular baille member having upper and lower walls having engagement with said guide plate means and slidable within the limits of the ends of said slot between said guide plate means, said baille having forward and rearward walls, a rear cover plate member coupled -to said guide plate means, said front cover plate and rear cover plate having aligned Ventilating holes and said forward and rearward walls of said baille having aligned Ventilating holes separated by lands, the holes of said baille and said cover plates being aligned in one slida-ble position of said tubular Ibaille member, the lands of said baille obscuring said Ventilating holes in said front and `rear cover plates in another position of said baille member, end closure members for the opposite ends of said front cover plate, said guide plate means and end closure members each having outstanding ribs arranged to be co-planar 4and forming, with the front cover plate, a screen retaining slot -along the edges of said Plate and end members.

2. A ventilator 'arranged to be positioned in substantially planar relationship with the rail of a door, window or the like, with a slot formed therethrough, rto be mounted within substantially the thickness of the rail, comprising a front cover plate having a pair of parallel guide plate means spaced apart substantially the height of the slot on one face thereof arranged to project into said slot of said rail, a tubular baille member having upper and lower walls having engagement with said guide plate means and slidable within the limits of the ends of said slot between said guide plate means, said baille having lforward and rearward walls, a rear cover plate member coupled to said lguide plate means, said front cover plate and rear cover plate having aligned Ventilating holes and said -forward and rearward walls of said baille having `aligned Ventil-ating holes separated tby lands, the holes `of said baille and said cover plates being aligned in one slidable position of said tubular baille member, the lands of Said "baille obscuring said Ventilating holes -in said front and rear cover plates in another position of said baille member, end closure members for the opposite ends of said `front cover plate, said guide plate means and end closure members each havin-g outstanding ri'bs arranged to lbe co-planar and forming, with the front cover plate, a screen retaining slot along the edges of said plate and end members, said rear cover member having a centrally dished wall portion between said guide plate means, said dished wall portion defining a limit slot and control knob means ywithin said dished pontionl and having a shank extending through said limit slot and coupled to said tubular baille member.

3. A ventilator arranged to be positioned ina substantially planar relationship with the rails of doors, Windows or the like having a ventilator receiving slot formed therethrough, comprising a front cover plate having a pair of spaced, integral, outwardly deilectible, rearwardly extending guide plates on one face thereof, a tubular 'baille having front and rear faces and upper and lower walls, said walls, respectively, slidingly engaging said guide plates, latching ledges formed adjacent the rearmost ends of said guide plates, said ledges inclu-ding cam surface portions, a rear cover plate member having latching means including cam portions and `holding shoulders, said latching ledges of said guide plates and said latching means of said .rear cover member being shiftab-le into interfitting relationship by movement of said rear plate toward said front plate, the cam surfaces ofsaid plates and said rear References Cited in the le of this patent cover plate being positioned to deect said plates out- UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly in the course of said movement of said rear plate,

a slot defined by said rear plate, a control knob having 1,009,173 Pomerantz Nov. 21, 1911 a shank slidably extending through said `slot and having an 5 1,756,023 Felsenthal Apr. 29, 1930 inner end coupled t-o said baffle, said front and rear cover 1,806,298 Levan May 19, 1931 plates Ihaving aligned Ventil-ating .apertures and said baille 1,812,595 Larson June 30, 1931 having Ventilating apertures selectively shiftable into ali-gn- 1,958,342 Johnson May 8, 1934 ment with and out of registry with `said apertures of said 2,832,130 Harvey Apr. 29, 1958 fro-nt and rear cover plates. 10 2,947,071 Marchant Aug. 2, 1960 

1. A VENTILATOR ARRANGED TO BE POSITIONED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RAIL OF A DOOR, WINDOW OR THE LIKE, WITH A SLOT FORMED THERETHROUGH, TO BE MOUNTED WITHIN SUBSTANTIALLY THE THICKNESS OF THE RAIL, COMPRISING A FRONT COVER PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL GUIDE PLATE MEANS SPACED APART SUBSTANTIALLY THE HEIGHT OF THE SLOT ON ONE FACE THEREOF ARRANGED TO PROJECT INTO SAID SLOT OF SAID RAIL, A TUBULAR BAFFLE MEMBER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER WALLS HAVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GUIDE PLATE MEANS AND SLIDABLE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE ENDS OF SAID SLOT BETWEEN SAID GUIDE PLATE MEANS, SAID BAFFLE HAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD WALLS, A REAR COVER PLATE MEMBER COUPLED TO SAID GUIDE PLATE MEANS, SAID FRONT COVER PLATE AND REAR COVER PLATE HAVING ALIGNED VENTILATING HOLES AND SAID FORWARD AND REARWARD WALLS OF SAID BAFFLE HAVING ALIGNED VENTILATING HOLES SEPARATED BY LANDS, THE HOLES OF SAID BAFFLE AND SAID COVER PLATES BEING ALIGNED IN ONE SLIDABLE POSITION OF SAID TUBULAR BAFFLE MEMBER, THE LANDS OF SAID BAFFLE OBSCURING SAID VENTILATING HOLES IN SAID FRONT AND REAR COVER PLATES IN ANOTHER POSITION OF SAID BAFFLE MEMBER, END CLOSURE MEMBERS FOR THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FRONT COVER PLATE, SAID GUIDE PLATE MEANS AND END CLOSURE MEMBERS EACH HAVING OUTSTANDING RIBS ARRANGED TO BE CO-PLANAR AND FORMING, WITH THE FRONT COVER PLATE, A SCREEN RETAINING SLOT ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID PLATE AND END MEMBERS. 